Horror and heroism

Recounting the brutalities of WW-II seems timely in today's era of conflict

- C UDAY BHASKAR

The Second World War remains the most definitive and consequential war of the 20th century with a scope that is vast and complex. It began in September 1939 when Germany invaded Poland and ended with the USA dropping an atomic bomb over Hiroshima-Nagasaki in August 1945, formally concluding the war in September.

It was a global conflict involving all the major powers of the time—the Allies versus the Axis—and more than 70 countries and colonies such as India were part of this hugely destructive war, more tragic than previous ones due to the use of the apocalyptic nuclear weapon.